Partition car for handling articles



Nov 11; 5 1515,582

A. A. SCOTT PARTITION CAR FOR HA NDLING ARTICLES Filed March 15'. 1921 3 Shets-$heet 1 Nov.l1, L51&582

A. A. scoTT I PARTITION CAR FOR HANDLING ARTICLES Filed March 15 1921 SSheets-Sheei 2 .36 4 $9 Jfi? 2%? 3 55 3.9

i? Ji Em amza$a A. A. SCOTT PARTITION CAR FOR HANDLING ARTICLES Filed March 15. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 z N & N x

1\ i ll l l l 3 m Patented Nev. ii, 1924.

UNTTED STATES 1,515,582 PATENT oFFicE.

ALEXANDER A. scour, or KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, essrenon To BALTIMORE 1 mm COMPANY, TRUSTEE.

ranrrrron one son Immune ARTICLES.

Application filed March 15, 1921.

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER A. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Knoxville,'in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented an Improvement in Partition Cars for Handling Articles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

In the manufacture of soft mud or moulded brick, it is necessary to utilize pallets on which a plurality of brick will be handled and in my present invention I have devised means to assemble a plurality of such brick directly from the pallets onto a combined conveying and unit stacking apparatus. Broadly considered, my present invention has for its object the provision of means which will enable a unit formation of moulded brick to be assembled thereon, directly from the pallets on which the moulded brick has been made or dumped, and preferably after they have been through the drier, simultaneously stacking the brick in unit formation and removing them from the pallet. It is also an important feature of the present invention to enable moulded brick to be built into unit form, whereby the brick can be subsequently handled by mechanical setters, lifters, or other devices, and I have also applied such a unit building deviceto avehicle, truck or the like so that. after the pallets are thus, unloaded and the unit built, the same can be moved or transported to the hacking machine adjacent a kiln, and. either transferred into hacked units or built di rectly into the kiln while unloading the same from the unit stack thus constructed.

Further important features consist in the provision of automatic means which will space the brick for hacking or kiln set-ting, means permitting removal of the brick and displacement of the spacing means or partitions by a cooperative carrier, together.

with other advantages and features.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable support such as the platformof a truck, vehicle or car, although the same may be utilized simply as a pallet unloading and unit building station if desired. lVith the truck platform of suitable height for the convenient unloading of the pallets, I also provide a plurality of spaced partitions formed as sliding members, and preferably Serial No. 452,507.

with counterbalanced weights, so that these shdmg partitions can be easily raised and lowered and will be maintained wherever thus positioned, vertically. The operators will position the loaded pallets with one end on the platform, raising the other end and thus sliding the brick off the pallet onto the platform, and a further raising of the pallet will enable the brick therefrom to be stackedin vertical position. Thus the pallet is readily removed and the truck is quickly filled, successive pallets being unloaded thereon as quickly as delivered, from the conveyor or other means to the truck. In order to space the stacks of brick thus unloaded onto the truck, I provide a plurality of. vertically movable partitions, preferably so arranged that when a column of bricktwo high has been piled widthwise of the truck, a partition may be raised, which will separate and space the first double columns of brick and constitute a backing for the next succeeding pallets. After two more rows or columns of brick have been positioned vertically against the partition, another partition is raised and so on until the entire truck is loaded. The truck can then be transported to adjacent the kiln and. I provide a cooperating carrier for the unloading of the brick thus transported in vertically stacked formation. In this carrier I provi'ded means cooperating with the partitions and spaced equally therewith, so that the lowering of the carrier will act to depress the partitions as far as one or 1nore: of the topmost courses; of brick, thereby releasingthese courses of brick from the partitions and simultaneously permitting the engagement of the lifting devices of the carrier. Thereupon the top brick so released may be clampedor otherwise engaged and the row or rows so released from the partitions of the truck and clamped by the carrier, can be readily removed and built into the kiln, or into other unit stack. formation for sub sequent handling. As the partitions are balanced and therefore maintain any vertical position to which they may be placed, the removal of one layer or layers of brick automatically preparesthe truck and the partitions for the similar removal of a succeeding layer or layers until the lowermostor bottom courses have been reached and removed- My method of thus handling brick which have been moulded or positioned onto a pallet, resulting in providing a unit bullding and simultaneously pallet unloading operation, is, I believe, a distinct novelty in this art, and I wish to claim the same herein broadly.

Further features of the invention, novel combinations of parts and details will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is aside view illustrating the process of building a unit from pallets on my partition car;

Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the method of removal of layers or courses of brick from the car; and

Fig. 3 is an end view.

It will be appreciated that my invention is not limited to the type of conveying device herein illustrated, but can be advantageously employed as a loading station, or as an automobile truck with a capacity of one or more units. Such a completed truck would be useful for handling and transporting burned brick maintaining the brick, tile or articles thus carried, in unit formation to facilitate unloading in orderly layers or 'roups. My invention, however, is primarily for use in handling green brick during the process of manufacturing and for use in building a unit of such green brick directly from a pallet, simultaneously unloading the pallet, forming the unit and also loading the brick on a car or movable device which can transport the same to any desired point for subsequent handling by mechanical conveyors, thus eliminating hand operations and being an important link in automatic systems of brick manufacture.

A partition car of simple form is here illustrated, wherein a platform 1 is supported upon a suitable axle 2 and pair of wheels 8, 3, for moving and transporting. Preferably the platform 1 is of a considerable height above the ground, and may be positioned above the axles to allow for the lowering or housing of the partitions 5 below the horizontal plane of the top of the platform 1. For this purpose the platform 1 must be sufiiciently above the ground to afford space for the housing of these partitions equal to or somewhat greater than the height of the partitions above the platform 1 when in use, and therefore the space below the platform must be approximately the same as the height of the unit to be built on the carrier. This platform 1 is slotted at a plurality of points 6, 6, 6, crosswise of the same and with these slots properly spaced to receive sliding portions 7 of the partitions which latter are designated generally at 5. These partitions may be formed in any desired way, but as illustrated in Fig. 3 are preferablyn plurality of slats or members 7 united at the top by a crossbar as designated by the reference character 5 which is utilized as a reference to the entire partition, and at the bottorn by crossbars 8.

Each of these partitions is substantially like the other in construction and operation and therefore the description of one will be sufficient for all, it being understood that as many of these partitions are arranged in a car and through the platform 1 as is desired for the capacity of the car and for the unit or units to be built thereon.

Each partition 5 is not only arranged to slide vertically through its slot (5, but is also preferably counterbalanced so that the partition can be easily and quickly raised or lowered to any height within the limit of its vertical movement and maintained there without locks, difiiculty, or other action. For this purpose I provide a counterweight 10 attached to a pair of ropes, wires or chains 11, each running over sheaves 12 pivoted in appropriate recesses in the platform 1 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The counterweight 10 is of suflicient weight to balance the partition 5 which is carried by the opposite end of the rope 11, the friction of the rope and pulleys, as well as of the sliding parts 7, in the slot 6 through the platform being sufficient to maintain the partitions 5 and counterweights 1O wherever moved.

In order to steady the apparatus I provide a pair of depending guides 14., 14, for each counter weight 10, these guides being located under the platform 1 and secured thereto, these guides also serving to define a space in which the partitions 5 are housed when in lowered position.

I also prefer to apply fixed guides or guards 15 at one end, side or appropriate point on the apparatus, with a beveled face 16 as a fixed guide for the positioning of the overhead carrier or mechanical lifter in unloading the brick from the apparatus, as will be described.

It will be understood that my partition car, while primarily intended for use in building a unit of brick directly from pallets, can also be employed for building a unit by hand, or conveyors or otherwise. As herein illustrated, I have shown the same as for use in connection with the manufacture of moulded brick, wherein the pallet is employed, and consequently will describe the building of the unit thereon by unloading pallets. It is customary for these pallets 20 to have a plurality of brick, from five to eight, thereon, as is well known, an average number being six, as illustrated in the row of brick 21 on the pallet 20 in Fig. 1. I have, therefore, illustrated the present apparatus as having partitions 5 of sufiicient length and capable of ample vertical movement to take care of the building of a unit of six brick high. The operator, when ready to build a unit on the apparatus, raises the first partition 5, which will stay where positioned, through the lowering of the counterweight 10 and the frictional action of the slats or nreinbers 7 through the slots in the platform 1. The operator simply lowers one end of the pallet20 a' :lja"cent the partition, raises the other and thus slides the entire series of brick downwardly, resting on the "platform, and simultaneously raising the pallet 20 to vertical position, stacks the brick against the partition. This action starts the building of the unit, un

loads the pallet, upends the largerbrick into vertical column and partially positions the same for unloading.

It'w'il'l be understood that the partitions 5 may "be provided in sufficient number and spacing "for any group or number of brick in a column, that herein shown being suitable for building a unit of brick with two infeach column widthwise thereof, and of suflicient length of the column of brick or widthwise of the apparatus -for the size of unit desired. The operator therefore builds the first column of brick against the partition 5 "by unloading successive pallets 20 and thereupon builds a second column of brick by unloading successive pallets directly against the first column, until the same is completed entirely across the wadtl'i of the platform 1. As hereinillustrated,the platform is built fora unit four brick'wide and twelve long, see Figs. 2 and 3. VVhe'n the two brick column is conip'lete'dacross the apparatus, "the operator then raises the next,

partition '5, thus spacing and maintaining the column thus built and constituting a backin for the second column and so on until the entire unit is constructed on the apparatus by the unloading of successive pallets 20 and the standing of brick on end during this unloading, thus building the unit, and also having the unit built on a platform which can be moved. l/Vith the unit stack of brick thus built, and all the partitions 5 raised to vertical limit, the car or apparatus can be transported to a convenient point in the brick yard or for unloading, and thereupon the brick can be unloaded by a mechanical lifter, setter or carrier. Any suitable type of lifter can be employed, the apparatus herein shown being merely for illustrative purposes, and being designated generally at 25. This carrier is of appropriate dimensions to engage the entire topmost course of brick, i. e., four wide and twelve long, and for this purpose has a framework 26 adapted to extend over the topmost layer or course 27 of the brick. As I may desire to lift a plurality of layers, I have herein shown the carrier 25 with a plurality of lifting or clamping lingers of sufficient extentto engage the "two topmost rows of brick, 27 and 28-, simultaneously, to lift and remove the same from the car. The carrier has formed thereon a plurality "of sets of fingers 30 depending from the framework and mounted for lateral movement on rods '32 and The simple form of carrier is herein illustrated, Wherein the outermost fingers 30 are mounted rigidly on the rods 32 which latter are actuated by springs 35 to effect an inward clamping action, serving to force all the brick in the rows 27 and28 and in the columns of each inwardly, sliding the inner lingers 30 on their rods 33 and thus effecting clamping action throughout the mass andlayers of the rowsof brick thus engaged. Theopera ti-onof this action is necessarily delayed until the partitions 5 are removed. After said removal the levers 36 may be actuated to eifect the release ofrthesprings 35, which latter may be furthermore actuated by the lifting action of the rod 38, lifting the entire apparatus, and'exerting a suflicienttension'on the springs '35, rods 32, and outermost fingers 30, through bell cranks 39, 89, to lift the'entire lot of :bricks.

In order to position the carrier and the fingers -30 about the topmost layers "to be removed, the carrier is simply lowered into "position, the outermost fingers "adjaceh t the guide '15 striking against the beveled surface 16 and thus automatically guiding the entire carrier into -position so that the several fingers 30 will be in alinement with the several partitions 5 on the car, each finger being normally spaced "appropriately for this alining action. Thereupon the furs ther lowering of the carrier 25 by its weight depresses the counterbalanced partition-s75, permitting the partitions to be depressed and lowered as far as the fingers of the carrier extend. This position is illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the carrier when in lowered position has automatically removed the partitions from their separating engagement with the topmost rows 27 and 28, thus permitting these rows to be moved or slid inwardly during the clamping action of the carrier, as above explained, and consequently to be lifted freely and removed from the apparatus. This unloading operation is repeated until the entire unit of brick has been removed, and thereupon the partitions 5 are in their lowermost or housed position, and the entire car is ready to receive a successive unit of brick to be built thereon.

My invention thus has a capacity for carrying out the novel process of simultaneously building a unit of brick for subsequent handling by mechanical carriers, setters, etc., as a step in the process of the automatic manufacture of brick, which building is performed by the action of unloading brick from the pallets on which the brick has been transported or made. Furthermore, this action of building the unit and of unloading the pallets, is effected by the further action of placing the brick in a vertical column and on edge. This feature is most important, because moulded brick on pallets are laid flat, whereas brick when piled in a kiln are set on edge. Therefore this edging action is an essential step in the handling of brickduring their process of manufacture and has heretofore been performed mainly, if not entirely, by hand. It will, therefore, be seen that this carrier contemplates the simultaneous and practically automatic action of the triple steps consisting in unloading the brick from pallets, edging up the brick for hacking, and building the unit. These novel features are intended to be claimed broadly herein.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A movable truck having a platform, a plurality of vertically movable partitions carried by said platform, and appropriately spaced for the formation thereon of a unit stack of brick, in predetermined spaced re lation, means to move the partitions vertically at will during loading, and means for lowering the partitions during unloading.

2. A movable truck having a platform, a plurality of vertically movable partitions carried by said platform, and appropriately spaced for the formation thereon of a. unit stack of brick, in predetermined spaced relation, and means for lowering the partitions operable by the positioning of an unloading carrier on the truck.

3. A movable truck having a platform, a. plurality of vertically movable partitions carried by said platform, and appropriately spaced for the formation thereon of'a unit stack of brick, in predetermined spaced relation, means for lowering the partitions by the lowering of an unloading carrier and means to guide the carrier into position for the lowering of the partitions.

4. A truck of the kind described, adapted for use in the handling and transporting of brick and suitable for the building of a unit stack of brick thereon by the unloading of pallets, comprising a platform, a plurality of slots through said platform, a plurality of partitions having portions adapted to slide through the slots in said platform, and counterbalancing means, whereby the parti tions may be retained in any vertical position desired.

5. Apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a movable truck having a plurality of vertically movable partitions, properly spaced for predetermined columns of brick, to be built thereon, means permitting the moving of successive partitions into position during the progress of the building of the unit, and means to retain the partitions in uppermost brick engaging position during the transporting of the unit.

6. Apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a movable truck having a plurality of vertically movable partitions, properly spaced for predetermined columns of brick, to be built thereon, means permitting the moving of successive partitions into position during the progress of the building of the unit, and means to retain the partitions in uppermost brick engaging positionduring the transporting of the unit, said partitions being removed during the unloading of courses of brick from the unit.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALEXANDER A. SCOTT. 

